Published: August 28, 2008 11:58 am         

Town’s clock honors ‘Mr. Veedersburg’

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — Tom Linker thought that Veedersburg, Ind., should have a street clock. He saw similar clocks in other towns, and he wanted one for his hometown.

That clock was erected last week and will be dedicated in Linker’s memory Sunday at the corner of U.S. Route 136 and Mill Street.

“Tom saw those clocks, and he was the one who started the project with the Hub Civic Center Board,” said his widow, Susie.

Linker died in February, but his family and friends wanted to see the project completed.

The clock is in front of the former Indiana Bell Telephone Co. building, where Linker worked for 34 years and not far from where grew up on Mill Street.

“Tom was often called Mr. Veedersburg,” said Jim Robinson, who has been instrumental in seeing the project completed.

The clock is on a green pole in honor of Linker’s beloved Veedersburg High School Green Devils, where he graduated in 1960. At the top it lists Veedersburg as being established in 1872. Three Veedersburg paver bricks are planned for the base of the clock along with a dedication plaque.

The clock was built by the Verdan Company in Cincinnati.

Chimes currently ring on the hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, except for Sunday mornings. More than 640 musical selections are possible, and can be themed for holidays, such as the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any special occasion.

The Hub Civic Center Board, which governs the former Veedersburg High School building and gymnasium, spearheaded the project along with town officials, the Tri Kappa, grants including the Southeast Fountain Community Foundation and dona-tions from residents.

“Tom was one of the original group to save the high school,” Robinson said. “He was the guy who was always there. It needed a lot of work.”

The center is the home to a preschool, bingo, the American Legion, Boy Scouts and other community activities.

“Tom was very active,” Robinson said. “Both (he and his wife) have done a lot for our community.”

Susie Linker is very appreciative of the project.

“It is quite a tribute to Tom,” she said.



DEDICATION

The new Veedersburg street clock will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. EDT Sunday at the corner of U.S. Route 136 and Mill Street. Participants will include David Van Dorn, president of the Hub Civic Center Board; Jim Auter, retired teacher and superintendent and brother-in-law of Linker; and Linker’s sons, Tony of Dallas and Troy of Dyer. It will end with an American Legion six-man salute. The chimes will ring at 2 p.m. Bring lawn chairs.